The Top Performances by Telugu actresses, 2013

While actresses generally have hardly any substantial role to play in Telugu films, some have turned in good performances within the limited framework.

The five best performers of 2013 include three Telugu speaking actresses, which is rare in a field dominated by non-Telugu speaking actresses

Nithya Menen

Films: Okkadine, Gunde Jaari Gallanthayinde (GJR)

Nithya is a natural performer and singer too.

Her acting in Okkadine and GJR was critically acclaimed and won over audiences too.

She can hold her own in any kind of role. She has made an effort to learn the language and dub in it.

She juggles films in Telugu along with other languages like Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

Films: Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu, Balupu, Masala

Director: Srikkanth Addala, K. Vijayabhaskar

Anjali had made her presence felt in Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam films before she made an impressive debut in Telugu with SVSC.

Her subtle, understated performance and a commanding screen presence in the role of Seethamma signalled that she is here to stay.

She was cast opposite Venkatesh in SVSC, and more than held her own.

In Balupu she had a short role as a doctor opposite Ravi Teja. One wished she had more time on screen.

In Masala she was again cast with Venkatesh and though here too she had a brief role, she was in a song shot in Japan in the film, which brought out her glamorous side.

Anjali shows promise and talent and is a native Telugu girl.

Films: Gundello Godaari, Shadow, Sahasam

Taapsee showed off her acting skills in Gundello Godaari and Sahasam.

As the beguiling Sarala, she shone in the short role, proving that it’s not the length of the role that matters.

She brought a certain rawness to the role that was necessary.

In Shadow, unfortunately, she got to do little but enhance the oomph factor of the film.

In the adventure drama Sahasam, she had a role almost as long as that of the hero Gopichand, and did it justice. 

Film: Swamy Ra Ra

Director Sudhir Varma

Swati is the other Telugu girl who won commercial success with the film Swamy Ra Ra. 

She was convincing as a girl very much in love with a guy she trusts implicitly.

Swati also made a foray into Malayalam cinema with Amen and North 24 Kaatham, cast opposite the current Malayalam sensation, Fahadh Faasil.

The films did well and fetched her accolades and critical acclaim for her acting.

Film: Anthaku Mundu Aa Tharavatha 

Director: Mohanakrishna Indraganti

The latest Telugu actress on the block, Eesha made her debut with National Award-winning director Mohanakrishna Indraganti’s latest film Anthaka Mundu Aa Tharavatha (AMAT).

She shared almost the same screen space as co-star Sumanth Ashwin.

Knowing Telugu helped her not just to dub her own lines but to enhance her performance as well.